Dead sections are installed in overhead contact lines at the boundaries between different-phase current sections in AC electrified JR conventional lines. They sometimes restrict train speed-up because high value strain occurs in the contact wire near their entrance when pantographs pass by. In this study, the author considered the difference in the sliding surface level at both ends of the dead section caused by loading tension, its relationship with the strain of contact wire and developed a dead section which provides a smaller difference in the sliding surface level. Reduction in the strain of contact wire was observed in pantograph running tests on this dead section.

Copyright (c) 2002 Railway Technical Research Institute